[Sporadic anterior cervical hypertrichosis].

BACKGROUND

Anterior cervical hypertrichosis is a rare and little-known form of congenital localized hypertrichosis. It is characterized by the presence of a tuft of terminal hairs in the anterior cervical region. We report four typical clinical observations of this condition.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Four patients aged from 5 to 21 years were seen for a tuft of terminal long hair on the neck, next to the cricoid cartilage, recorded at birth or during early childhood. There was no indication of previous trauma or topical drug application. No similar familial history was found. In one case, histological examination performed for suspicion of an "atypical" smooth muscle hamartoma contributed nothing of note. No neurological abnormalities were observed. In one case there was a history of chronic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and familial thyroid disease. Treatment with 5 sessions of laser hair removal was proposed in one case and the improvement was considered satisfactory by the patient.

DISCUSSION: Anterior cervical hypertrichosis constitute a specific clinical picture of a benign nature, and is sometimes associated with neurological, orthopaedic or ocular abnormalities. Although rarely reported, its frequency is probably underestimated.